Non traditional student here( University->-CC-->UC hopeful)

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

History: I attempted 40 credits at a state University, did horrible and left with a 1.5 GPA.

Currently, I am at a CC and in my second semester. My major is not impacted at UCLA. The average transfer GPA for this major is 3.7 I am very worried. Does that mean I have to raise my GPA to a 3.7 before I even THINK about applying to UCLA???
I thought an upward 4.0 GPA (recent) trend through 2 years at a CC would work in my favor?? My expected GPA after I am done with all my required courses (that are needed to transfer) would still only be a 3.12. I have to keep on taking courses to reach a 3.7 before I apply to UCLA??

Help!
ps. I can’t attend other schools since I must stay in LA. please don’t say just try harder bc this 3.12 GPA is factoring in 1 year of future 4.0 GPA work.

2

Does the state university have an academic renewal or grade forgiveness policy in which you could retake a similar course at a different college?

Are you in your CC’s honors program? This would help with UCLA - i believe it helped my daughter.

Yes an upward trend could help. No you don’t have to keep taking courses to reach a 3.7. Remember it is an average of acceptance.

Your statements may also help too, to explain your grades.

3

I must retake the poorly done courses at the same university (in order to do academic renewal )which is definitely not an option at all. ( my family is here and I can’t live in another state).

I’m not in the honors program at my CC yet Bc I still have to complete this semester before joining that program.

4

What kind of courses are the 40 credits?

You should contact UCLA and ask them if you could retake equivalent courses at CC and whether they will consider the better grades over the first grade, like academic renewal. It is possible.

5

They were general requirements.

6

UCLA and Berkeley sometimes accept unique applicants with considerably lower GPA’s that everyone else.

Perhaps your nontraditional status may help you out there.

I don’t see how living in LA precludes you from attending any other universities–there are several CSU’s in LA County, all with cheaper tuition and more forgiving admissions committees.

7

You can take the equivalent courses at a community college to replace the CSU ones, assuming the CC has them. Talk to a CC counselor and bring in your CSU transcript. If they are basic courses, such as pre-calc, intro to psych, you can retake them at a CC. The CSUs and CCs are closely aligned, although those sorts of classes are usually repeatable from any school. Talk to a CC advisor.